Family Poems for Every Day of the Week: Poemas Familiares Para Cada Día de la Semana
A bilingual poetry collection by the late Francisco X. Alarcón, acclaimed Chicano poet, celebrating the days of the week and everyday childhood experiences.
Una colección bilingüe de poesía del difunto Francisco X. Alarcón, aclamado poeta chicano, que celebra los días de la semana y las experiencias cotidianas de la infancia.
Get ready for a bilingual collection of poems that takes us through the week day by day! Children spend Sunday visiting their grandparents, play with school friends on Monday, daydream on Tuesday, eat popcorn at the local market on Wednesday, and more, until we arrive at Saturday, when they get to play nonstop all day. Along the way, we also learn how the names of the seven days came to be.
Partly based on the real life experiences of Alarcón's own family, this festive, celebratory collection of poems highlights the daily life of children while also honoring the experiences of the poet's Latino family in the United States. With their vibrant illustrations, artist Maya Gonzalez has created a loving tribute to childhood, to family, and to beloved poet Francisco Alarcón.
¡Prepárate para una colección de poemas bilingüe que nos lleva a través de la semana día a día! Los niños pasan el domingo visitando a sus abuelos, juegan con los amigos de la escuela el lunes, sueñan despiertos el martes, comen palomitas de maíz en el mercado local el miércoles y más, hasta que llegamos al sábado, cuando se ponen a jugar sin parar todo el día. En el camino, también aprendemos cómo llegaron a ser los nombres de los siete días.
Basada en parte en las experiencias de la vida real de la propia familia de Alarcón, esta colección de poemas festivos destaca la vida cotidiana de los niños y al mismo tiempo honra las experiencias de la familia latina del poeta en los Estados Unidos. Con sus vibrantes ilustraciones, artista Maya Gonzalez ha creado un amoroso tributo a la infancia, a la familia y al amado poeta Francisco Alarcón.
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Francisco X. Alarcón was a renowned poet and educator, and a three-time winner of the Pura Belpré Author Award Honor for his bilingual Magical Cycle of the Seasons series of poetry for children. His many other honors include the American Book Award, the PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award, the Chicano Literary Prize, and finalist for state poet laureate of California. Alarcón was also the author of several poetry collections for adults and textbooks for teaching Spanish. In addition, he directed the Spanish for Native Speakers Program at the University of California. Alarcón passed away in early 2016.
Maya Gonzalez is an award-winning children's book artist, author, activist and progressive educator. Their work addresses systemic inequity in relation to race/ethnicity, sexism, and cissexism using children's books as radical agents of change and healing, both personally and culturally. Gonzalez co-founded Reflection Press, a POC, queer and trans owned independent publishing house that uses holistic, nature-based, and anti-oppression frameworks in their books and materials for kids and grown-ups. They are also the creator of the Gender Wheel, a tool to express the dynamic, infinite and inclusive reality of gender, and provides lectures and workshops to educators, parents and caregivers. Visit them online at mayagonzalez.com.
* "Reflects on traditions, special gatherings, and time spent with family. . . Gonzalez's radiant illustrations (inspired by Mexican indigenous crafts, she notes) bring a sense of cosmic oneness to the pages, connecting the boy to his family, community, and the ever-spinning planet." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Daily ritual and mundane activities take on the patina of legend as time molds the character of what a family is and what it becomes. Equating the distinct characteristics of each day with the uniqueness of each family member, the poems embrace the strength of individuality while recognizing the power of the whole." -- Kirkus Reviews
"The poems vary in complexity and style and could serve as reliable examples for classroom poetry exercises. Gonzalez's vivid, culturally relevant illustrations define the mood of each poem, switching between a cool palate (pale blues for Monday daydreaming) and a warm palate (neon pinks and oranges for playful Saturday). . . Recommended for wide purchase as a warm introduction to poetry and either a mirror of or a window into Latino family life." -- School Library Journal
"Celebrates the days of the week and the closeness of the family. . . The text, in both Spanish and English, is heightened by Gonzalez's buoyant artwork. With psychedelic colors and shapes, the pictures pop off the pages." -- Booklist
"Richly descriptive. . . Gonzalez's full-bleed double-page-spread illustrations, in watercolor, gouache, and acrylic marker, richly complement the text. Her art pays tribute to Mexico's indigenous crafts, while her use of circles on each page shows that everything in life is a continuous cycle." -- The Horn Book
Junior Library Guild Selection
